Having just recovered from the coldest December on record is seems that Ireland’s taste of Arctic weather is far from over as Met Eireann predicts up to 10 cm (4inches) of snow and temperatures of -1C (30F).

Sleet and rain are expected for the coming days throughout Connacht, Ulster, west Munster and north Leinster. However, by Friday this will turn into a countrywide blanket of snow with “possible drifting”. The wintery showers will continue until next week.

Thankfully a New Zealand forecaster, who reads the moon, Ken Ring, has predicted that Ireland will have a warm summer. Speaking to the Irish Independent he said “There will be a cold first half of January, then, after a very cold second week in March, a mild spring.

"There will be a slow start to a mild summer. However, the good news is there are three lovely fortnights to choose from in the months of May, July and September. July should be the warmest month. Mid-to-late summer and early autumn are likely to be the sunniest in 2011.”

Ring’s predictions are closely followed by Irish farmers and his forecast for 2010 was remarkably accurate. He now does annual long-range forecasts for New Zealand, Australia and Ireland.